Unto Others
First up are gothy/doomy rockers Unto Others, from Portland, USA. I’d not heard their music before but a friend said before the gig that they’d likely be right up my street, so I checked them out. On first impressions they struck me as like a slightly lighter version of Paradise Lost – a great pairing of support acts it seems!
They kick off with Butterfly, a beautiful gothic rock track. Sporting sunglasses and an unhurried attitude, singer/guitarist Gabriel Franco simply oozes cool, and at times it’s evident there is more than a brush of influence from the Cure’s Robert Smith. Strong guitar work is provided by the Franco/Silva pairing, as they strike a nice balance between driving riffs and solos (‘Momma Likes The Door Closed’), and gothic atmosphere. Sadly restricted to half an hour’s stage time, they close with a pounding, driving rendition of ‘It Doesn’t Really Matter’
Three songs from their 5 song short set have come from their most recent release – 2024’s Never, Neverland. Overall, they had a great sound, great stage vibe, and are a brilliant new discovery band for me!
- Butterfly
- Momma Likes The Door Closed
- Nightfall
- Suicide Today
- It Doesn’t Really Matter
Paradise Lost
The tinkling of the piano signifies they’re starting with Draconian Times’ magnificent opening track ‘Enchantment’. Sadly the first verse of Holmes’ vocal lines were lost to technical difficulties, but after a quick microphone swap he’s in business and his trademark baritone vocals are thundering through the Manchester Academy.
Paradise Lost need no extravagant props, stage show or pyrotechnics. Their stripped down rawness and no-nonsense attitude are what has brought them so much success all these years. Nick Holmes’ ever-present Yorkshire sense of humour was out in force… I was trying to get a decent angle to photograph the drummer when suddenly the view through the lens gets a bit dark and blurry. Confused, I take the camera away from my eye and look up to see a grinning Holmes towering over me with his hand over my lens. I grin back and mouth an expletive at him, which he reciprocates in good form!
This tour features yet another change of drummer for Paradise Lost – this time they welcome back a familiar face in that of Jeff Singer who played with the band in the noughties. The rest of the lineup has remained unchanged over the years, with guitarists Aedy and Mackintosh, and Steve Edmonson on bass. They are on great form tonight, Nick Holmes opting not to engage with too much banter between songs, and instead let the music do the talking, with Greg Mackintosh’s guitar work stealing the show
The setlist is a solid mix from the middle part of their career (1992-2015), featuring 9 songs from 8 albums, and as is customary they bring things to a close with a sublime version of ‘Say Just Words’. However this year will see the release of a new album entitled ‘Ascension’, and I was surprised they didn’t treat us to the recently released excellent new track from it ‘Silence Like the Grave’, particularly given its positive reception from the music press. Thankfully, in October we will get a UK headlining tour in support of the album. A brilliant performance from the perennial British gothic stalwarts.
- Enchantment
- The Enemy
- No Hope In Sight
- Pity The Sadness
- Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us
- The Last Time
- Ghosts
- Embers Fire
- Say Just Words
King Diamond
Whenever you listen to King Diamond or go to one of his gigs, you’re not simply going to a concert – you are welcomed into his web – a macabre nightmare – and he’s the perfect storyteller. Let’s begin…
In stark contrast to the first two bands minimalist approach to stage props, Danish metal veteran King Diamond unveils a huge multi-level stage set, with drums and backing vocalist Hel Pyre raised up high.… and Abigail’s coffin taking centre stage. ‘Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920’ banners reference the upcoming album slated for a 2026 release, which will be his first in nearly two decades.
As the intro tape finishes, King springs up unannounced from behind the coffin, none of the photographers down the front are expecting such an abrupt and scary entrance, and it gives us all a bit of a fright!
He sets the tone by ritualistically sacrificing a prosthetic Abigail doll with a knife. The sight of King Diamond in his trademark top hat and corpsepaint dismembering the child corpse, before finishing her off by thrusting the knife firmly into her mouth is a sight to behold and one that every self-respecting old school metalhead should experience at least once in their lifetime!
Last time I saw King he performed the Abigail album in its entirety. By telling the story from start to finish he was able to do justice to the complex songwriting and plot of the album, so I was apprehensive about whether a ‘best of’ setlist would have the same impact. I needn’t have worried though, as tonight we were treated to a journey through his discography, and it didn’t at all feel jumbled. A couple of songs from other prominent concept album ‘Them’ made an appearance in the middle of the set, along with a new unreleased track ‘Spider Lily’.
King alternates between low end growls and snarls, and his trademark inimitable falsetto, and at age 69, it’s no mean feat. His femur bone microphone stand further adds to the visual spectacle. Kim Bendix Peterson a.k.a. King is of course the superstar, but he is flanked by some of the most technically accomplished musicians in metal, with Andy Larocque gettings the biggest cheer when King introduces the band.
(Top) hats off to you, Mr. Diamond, come back soon!
- Funeral
- Arrival
- A Mansion in Darkness
- Halloween
- Voodoo
- “Them”
- Spider Lilly
- Two Little Girls
- Sleepless Nights
- Out From the Asylum
- Welcome Home
- The Invisible Guests
- The Candle
- Masquerade of Madness
- Eye of the Witch
- Burn
Encore
- Abigail
Photos and Review by Rob Lindesay – @rock.the.lens
